Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent assessment her Department has made of the security of borders surrounding Nigeria.

Violence in Nigeria, which includes terrorism, intercommunal violence and attacks by criminal groups, is having a devastating impact on affected communities, including those living in border regions. We are monitoring the strain that conflict in Nigeria is placing on neighbouring countries, such as Niger, as well as within the country itself.

We continue to urge and support the Nigerian Government to take action to implement long-term solutions that address the root causes of violence. At our Security and Defence Dialogue in February we committed to support Nigeria as it responds to growing security challenges. The UK is also supporting the International Organisation for Migration's work with the Governments of Niger and Nigeria to improve border management, through our Collaboration against trafficking and smuggling between Nigeria and Niger (CATS) programme. We will continue to work with international partners to monitor the impacts of conflict in Nigeria on neighbouring countries.